HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE -- After years of risking their lives with badges in hand, a Lake County law enforcement couple now also focus on raising their family and increasing awareness for the disease threatening their young son.

"My son's chances of survival are slim without a bone-marrow transplant," Rodd said during a phone interview Friday.

Ryland was born without complications Oct. 4, just 15 months after his older sister Brooklynn.

But within six weeks of his birth, the Josephs began to observe occasional blood in Ryland's stool.

Doctors originally opined that Ryland suffered from an allergy condition known as allergic colitis, but Rodd said the bloody stool continued after the initial diagnosis -- and other symptoms, such as severe diaper rash and breathing troubles, began to appear.

The couple and their son were soon referred to specialists, who determined Ryland suffered from WAS Feb. 19. The condition is so rare that only a handful of known cases exist in California, Rodd said.

"We basically have to keep him in the house and with our immediate family," Rodd said of his son, whose trips outside the home are limited to medical visits.

The most common treatment for WAS is a bone-marrow transplant, which usually requires that a genetic match exists.

The National Marrow Donor Program, which operates the "Be the Match" registry, says although millions are registered to donate bone marrow, thousands of patients remain in need of transplant matches.

Friends and colleagues of the Josephs organized a testing drive next month.

People interested in being tested for a possible bone-marrow donation or those wanting to contribute funds to offset testing costs can do so from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 20 at the Lake County Fire Protection District main station, 14815 Olympic Drive in Clearlake.

"This is not just for my son, but for all the patients who have WAS and all the other people who need bone-marrow transplants," Rodd said.

Rodd, 41, began working with the Clearlake Police Department in 2007. He previously served with the police departments in Watsonville and Susanville. He also worked for the Kent Police Department and Lakewood Police Department in Washington.

Kellie, 36, started with the Lake County Sheriff's Office in 2009. She also worked for the Yuba County Sheriff's Office, Sutter County Sheriff's Office and Yolo County District Attorney's Office.

For more information on Ryland's condition, visit www.wiskott.org. To learn more about bone-marrow transplants, visit http://marrow.org.